Businesses hope for profitable holiday season

Friday

Nov 2, 2012 at 9:50 AMNov 2, 2012 at 10:12 AM

Children and adults alike crowded Main Street Plaza Thursday night to dash after snowballs dropped by Santa.

By Cristina JanneyManaging Editor

Children and adults alike crowded Main Street Plaza Thursday night to dash after snowballs dropped by Santa.OK, it’s not Christmas, yet, but Main Street was kicking off the holiday shopping season at the Main Event Thursday night. It was 70 degrees, and the “snowballs” were really numbered ping-pong balls. The numbers printed on the balls corresponded to coupons, gift certificates and prizes donated by McPherson merchants.Ann Engel, Main Street, director, said she didn’t know what she expected of this first-ever Main Street event, but said afterward she was pleased with the turnout.Thursday night’s ping pong drop was a warm up for a holiday open house set for Saturday and Sunday.McPherson merchants will have snacks and display holiday merchandise.This also is the kick off for the Candy Cane Cash promotion. For every $10 you spend at participating merchants, you get a punch on a Candy Cane Card. When you fill up the card, it can be entered in a drawing for $500 in Candy Cane Cash to be spent at participating McPherson merchants.There also will be a craft fair sponsored by the National Insurance Women form 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Community Building, and Elyria Christian School is sponsoring its annual benefit auction at 9 a.m. at the 4-H Building.Local merchants said they were optimistic about this year’s holiday shopping season.Richard Ragan of Browns Shoe Fit said he is expecting a good year.“We have had a good preseason. We are expecting a big turnout for our open house,” he said.Browns participated in the snowball drop with 60 coupons worth $15 off, which he hoped would bring in business this weekend.The Cook’s Nook manager Jonna Corrigan also said her store was looking for a good retail holiday season.She said she thought many people were waiting to see how the election turned out Tuesday before digging into their pockets.The Cook’s Nook will have holiday food samples at its open house this weekend. The store, as well as many other businesses downtown, will be open this Sunday for the open house and Sundays after Thanksgiving.